Use ChatGPT to Talk to Your Act CRM Data via CData Connect AI

ChatGPT is an AI chatbot developed by OpenAI, launched in November 2022. Based on large language models (LLMs), it enables users to refine and steer conversations through natural language processing. ChatGPT's developer mode, available to Plus and Pro subscribers, provides full Model Context Protocol (MCP) support for connecting to external data sources and tools.

CData Connect AI offers a dedicated cloud-to-cloud interface for connecting to Act CRM data. The CData Connect AI Remote MCP Server enables secure communication between ChatGPT and Act CRM. This allows you to ask questions and take actions on your Act CRM data using ChatGPT, all without the need for data replication to a natively supported database. With its inherent optimized data processing capabilities, CData Connect AI efficiently channels all supported SQL operations, including filters and JOINs, directly to Act CRM. This leverages server-side processing to swiftly deliver the requested Act CRM data.

Step 1: Configure Act CRM Connectivity for ChatGPT

Connectivity to Act CRM from ChatGPT is made possible through CData Connect AI Remote MCP. To interact with Act CRM data from ChatGPT, we start by creating and configuring a Act CRM connection in CData Connect AI.

1. Log into Connect AI, click Sources, and then click Add Connection

2. Select "Act CRM" from the Add Connection panel

3. Enter the necessary authentication properties to connect to Act CRM.

   The User and Password properties, under the Authentication section, must be set to valid Act! user credentials. In addition to the authentication values, see the following:

   • Connecting to Act! Premium

     In addition to the authentication values, the URL to Act! is also required; for example https://eup1-iis-04.eu.hosted.act.com/.

     Additionally, you must specify the ActDatabase you will connect to. This is found by going to the About Act! Premium menu of your account, at the top right of the page, in the ? menu. Use the Database Name in the window that appears.

   • Connecting to Act! Premium Cloud

     To connect to your Act! Premium Cloud account, you also need to specify the ActCloudName property. This property is found in the URL address of the Cloud account; for example https://eup1-iis-04.eu.hosted.act.com/ActCloudName/.

   Note that retrieving ActCRM metadata can be expensive. It is advised that you set the CacheMetadata property to store the metadata locally.

   
4. Click Save & Test

With the connection configured, we are ready to connect to Act CRM data from ChatGPT.

Step 2: Connect ChatGPT to CData Connect AI

Follow these steps to add a CData Connect AI connector in ChatGPT:

1. Sign in to ChatGPT with a Plus or Pro subscription.
2. Navigate to Settings > Connectors.
3. Under the "Advanced settings" section, toggle on Developer mode.
4. Once developer mode is enabled, return to the Connectors page and click Create.
5. Enter a name for the connector (such as Connect AI MCP).
6. In the Remote MCP server URL field, enter:

   https://mcp.cloud.cdata.com/mcp

7. Set Authentication to "OAuth."
8. Check I trust this application and click Create
9. You will be redirected to CData Connect AI's OAuth authorization page. Sign in with your Connect AI credentials.
10. Review the permissions requested and click Authorize to grant ChatGPT access to your Connect AI resources.
11. After successful authorization, you will be redirected back to ChatGPT.
12. The Connect AI MCP Server will now appear in your available connectors list where you can manage the connector and enable/disable actions (tools).

Step 3: Explore Live Act CRM Data with ChatGPT

1. Start a new conversation in ChatGPT.
2. In the tool picker, enable "Developer Mode."
3. Enable your Connect AI MCP Sever.
4. You can now start exploring your data with natural language prompts. ChatGPT will use the Connect AI MCP server to query your live Act CRM data. Example prompts:
   • "Show me all customers from the last 30 days"
   • "What are my top performing products?"
   • "Analyze sales trends for this quarter"
   • "List all active projects and their current status"
   Refer to CData's prompt library for more prompt ideas.
5. ChatGPT will translate your natural language queries into SQL and execute them against your Act CRM data through the Connect AI MCP server.

IMPORTANT: ChatGPT's developer mode provides full read/write MCP access. Be cautious when allowing write operations to your Act CRM data. Always review and confirm any data modifications before allowing them to proceed.

NOTE: Developer mode is in beta and only available to ChatGPT Plus and Pro subscribers. Refer to OpenAI's documentation for the latest setup information.

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